Universal cartridge holder



March 20, 1962 v. A. CECCHI 3,025,743

UNIVERSAL CARTRIDGE HOLDER Filed Jan. 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR VANDIO ACECCL-H ATTORNEY March 20, 1962 Filed Jan. 29, 1959 V. A CECCHI UNIVERSAL CARTRIDGE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \/AND\O ACECC LU A 7' TOR/VF Y 3,025,743 UNIVERSAL CARTRIDGE HOLDER Vandio A. (Iecchi, 178 W. Washington St., Bradford, Pa. Filed Jan. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 789306 11 Claims. (CI. 86-44) The present invention relates to cartridge reloading tools and is particularly directed to a device for securely holding a casing from an expended cartridge in a press during the steps necessary in a cartridge reloading operation.

While most of the ammunition used by sportsmen and hunters is purchased as pre-loadedcartridges, said cartridge components having been manufactured and assembled by factory methods, many individuals assemble or reload their own cartridges. Hand tools are available for home reloading, as are the basic cartridge components, namely, the casing, powder, primer, and bullets. The casings are used many times while the other components are expended when the cartridge is fired.

Since, in firing this cartridge, the force of the explosion has slightly changed the original dimensions of the casing the first step in the reloading operation is the reforming of the casing to its original size. This resizing is accomplished by holding the cartridge in a press having a high mechanical advantage and, thereupon forcing standard dimension dies over its outer surface and through its bore. The spent primer in the base of the cartridge casing is then forced out and a new primer pressed in its place. Subsequently, a powder charge is carefully weighed and placed in the casing, the amount of powder being a function of the muzzle velocity desired. Finally, a bullet of the desired shape and weight is pressed into bore of the casing and the cartridge is ready to be placed in a gun and fired.

Presently cartridge casings are held in the aforesaid reloading presses by individual dowels having a casing receiving recess in one end. Each diameter, i.e. caliber, cartridge casing requires a separate holder thus necessitating a multitude of parts if different caliber cartridges are to be reloaded. Moreover, these dowel type holders are not adjustable and, because of the variation in the rim thickness of diiferent casings, cannot hold the casing tightly in the press. Casing wobble is, therefore, possible during the reloading process resulting in cartridge deficiencies.

It is an object of my invention to provide a single cartridge casing holder for a reloading press which can readily be adapted to securely hold a wide range of different calibers of cartridge casings.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a cartridge casing holder which can be readily adjusted to tightly hold cartridge casings in a reloading press without wobble and in substantially perfect alignment with the other press parts regardless of the small dimensional differences due to manufacturing tolerance variations.

It is a further object of my invention to reduce the cost of reloading equipment by providing a single universal casing holder which would replace an entire set of holders, each capable of holding only one size of easing.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a casing holding device which will improve the quality of a reloaded cartridge thereby improving the performance of the cartridge, maintaining the consistency of results and providing increased safety to the sportsman.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show by way of example preferred embodiments of the invention and in which:

FIGURE 1 is side perspective view showing my invention mounted on a reloading press.

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FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of my invention having portions of the top cut away for greater clarity.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed side elevation shown partially in section wherein the casing locking fingers are holding a casing.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view in section taken on line 4--4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view in section taken on line 5--5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view in section taken on line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a partial side elevation as in FIGURE 3 showing. the cartridge holding fingers in a retracted position.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one cartridge casing holding finger.

FIGURE 9 is a partial side elevation having a locking means provided on the clamping sleeve handle.

In order to clarify how my invention is used, the loading press of which it is a part will be described. Referring now to FIGURE 1, a loading press 10 having an integral arm 14 and a base 15 aligned with said arm 14 is provided with a socket 16. My universal cartridge casing holder 13 is positioned in said socket and can hold a cartridge casing 12 in exact alignment with press bushing 11. The loading press 10 may be either hand operated or power operated. In operation a tool holding shaft (not shown) would extend through press bushing 11 and be moved by other press parts to perform the various operations required in reloading a cartridge.

My universal cartridge casing holding device 13 comprises a cylindrical body 33 adapted at its lower end to be rigidly held in a reloading press 10. The preferred holding means shown in the figures and in particular FIGURES 2 and 3 is providing body end portion 45 with a lesser outside diameter than the body 33 such that it can slidably engage the bore of press bushing 16. Since the body diameter is greater than said bore diameter, shoulder 50 is formed to limit the degree of body travel in the bore 16. Other methods of securing the casing holder 13 to the press 10 such as welding or screw threads are possible and I do not wish to be limited by the construction shown herein.

The body 33 is provided near its upper end with an integral radially outwardly extending flange 36 said flange having an annular outwardly and upwardly opening groove 37 on its radially outermost surface. An annular cam ring 30 having a series of spirally inwardly progressing slots 32 and a radially outwardly extending arm 31 rests in said groove 37 for circumferential movement relative to body 33. A spring 42 extends from arm 31 to a body projection 56 such that the circumferential movement of cam ring 30 is restrained and biased thereby.

A guide ring 20 is located axially adjacent cam ring 39 and is provided with a plurality of radially extending guide ways 21, '22, 23 and 24, each said guide way having a T shaped cross section wherein the axially outermost portion forms a guide shoulder 25. A radially outwardly opening slot 26 extends through the T section guide ways and is in register with the spiral slots 32 in cam ring 30. The length of slot 26 is such that it will register with a cam ring slot 32 at all points of the circumferential movement of cam ring 30.

Locking fingers 27 are positioned in guide ways 21, 22, 23 and 24 for radial movement relative thereto. FIGURE 8 shows the construction of a locking finger 27. The radially inner end of a locking finger 27 is chamfered as at 46 so as to be slightly smaller than the standard chamfer generally found on cartridge rims. This relation is shown at A in FIGURE 3. A slight radius 47 is also pro- 3 vided on the chamfered end of the locking finger 27. A radius intermediate the largest and smallest cartridge size adaptable to my holder would be preferred although no fixed value is necessary.

A guide pin 29 is integrally fastened to the locking finger 27 at a point near the radially outer end thereof. This pin has a diameter which is substantially equal to the width of spiral slots 32 and guide way slot 26 such that it will be easily slideable in both.

A cover ring 17 is placed over guide ring 24 and fastened to body flange 36 with a plurality of screws 18, 19 Which pass through holes 48 in guide ring 20* into tapped holes in body 63. While this method of assembling the parts of my invention is preferred other suitable methods such as welding or the use of drive pins may be employed.

Body 33 is also provided with a central coaxial bore 34 having an interior defining a lower threaded portion 51 and an upper cylindrical portion 52 of greater diameter, said greater diameter portion being substantially equal to the inner diameter of guide ring 20. Threaded portion 51 is separated from end portion 52 by a shoulder 53.

A sleeve 35 having an integral flange 3 8 at its upper end is adapted to threadedly engage body threads 51 for axial movement relative thereto. In the gripping of a cartridge in my universal holder the sleeve 35 is moved axially relative to body 33 so as to contact the base of a casing 12 as shown in FIGURE 3. This axial movement is accomplished preferably by providing a circumferentially extending slot 39 in body 33 through which lever 40 may extend. Said lever is integrally fastened to sleeve 35 at 41. This fastening means is preferably by use of an interference fit between said lever and a hole in the wall of sleeve 35 but other methods such as welding or screw threads could be used satisfactorily.

A locking means may be provided for lever 40' as shown in FIGURE 9. Therein said lever 40' is adapted to cooperate with sleeve 35' by engaging threads 43 and is provided with a flange 44 intermediate its ends. Said flange 44 has a diameter greater than the width of slot 39' and is positioned such that it will contact the body 33 when screwed into sleeve 35'. This effects a frictional lock at interface 53 such that lever 44? cannot accidentally be moved sideways during the loading operation.

If the movement of lever 40 does not give suflicient axial movement to sleeve 35 to contact the base of cartridge 12, an alternative means of adjusting the position of sleeve 35 is provided by having one or more radially extending grooves 54 in the top surface 55 of flange 38. The position of one of these grooves 54 is best shown in FIGURE 2. The shape of the grooves 54- is such that a common screw driver may cooperate with them to provide a rotating movement to sleeve 34.

In operation arm 31 is moved in a circumferential direction against the biasing force of spring 42. This causes cam ring to rotate, camming against the guide pins 29 of fingers 27. The fingers 27 are then moved radially outwardly such that the base of a cartridge may pass downwardly through them. This is best shown in FIG- URE 7. When the annular groove at the base of the cartridge is in substantially the same plane as the fingers 27, the arm 31 is released whereupon the cam plate 36 will force the fingers 27 into the cartridge groove.

The lever 40 is then moved circumferentially causing the sleeve to rise toward the base of the cartridge. This movement is continued until surface 55 of flange 6-8 contacts the bottom surface of the cartridge thus providing a firm support to resist the downward forces applied to the cartridge case during reloading. At the same time the fingers 27 securely hold the cartridge in an upright position.

If the modification shown in FIGURE 9 is used, the lever is rotated to bring flange 44 into frictional locking engagement-with body 33 after the sleeve 35 has com 4 pleted its upward movement. This locking means on lever 40 then serves as a safety device to prevent accidental movement of sleeve 35.

When the alternate adjusting means utilizing the slot 54 is employed it is necessary to raise sleeve 35 to its final position before a cartridge case is placed in my universal holder. This position is a matter of judgment and trial and error on the part of the operator. The fingers 27 are then advanced into contact with the cartridge casing by the biasing force of spring 42 and the cartridge casing is ready to be reloaded. j H 7 It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the em bodiments described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention a defined in the appended claims. It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A universal cartridge casing holder comprising a body member having a bore, said bore having an enlarged upper portion to receive a cartridge casing, and having a radially outwardly extending flange on the upper end thereof, said flange providing an annular recess; a cam ring received in said recess and rotatably moveable therein, said cam ring defining a plurality of spirally inwardly progressing slots; a guide ring fastened to the upper end of said body and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide ways; gripping fingers radially moveable in said guide ways and having means engaging said cam ring slots whereby rotary movement of said cam ring causes radial movement of said grip-ping fingers into positive engagement with a cartridge casing; and a bearing sleeve threadedly engaged in said body bore and moveable axially therein to provide an adjustable support for a cartridge casing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a biasing means is provided between said body member and said cam ring and arranged to urge said gripping fingers into locking engagement with a cartridge casing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said gripping finger cam ring engaging means comprises an axially extending circular pin.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said bearing sleeve is provided with a rotating means comprising a lever extending radially from said sleeve through a circumferential slot in said body member.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a cover plate is fastened axially adjacent said guide ring to retain the gripping fingers in the guide ways.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the bearing sleeve is provided at its upper end with radially outwardly extending grooves to receive a turning tool.

7. A cartridge casing holder for use with a cartridge reloading press, said cartridge casing holder comprising a cylindrical body member adapted at one end thereof to fit a reloading press and having an integral annular flange near the other end thereof, said flange defining an upwardly and outwardly opening groove, said body member also being provided with a coaxial bore coextensive therewith, said bore being of greater diameter near its uppermost portion than at its lower portion whereby a cartridge casing may be accommodated in said greater diameter portion, the wall of said lower portion having screw threads; a cam ring rotatable in said body flange groove, said cam ring defining a plurality of radially inwardly spiralling slots and having a radially outwardly extending arm integral therewith; a guide ring axially adjacent said cam ring and provided with a plurality of radially extending guide ways, said guide ways having a rectangular cross SECtiOIl and ha ng a radially outwardly opening slot extending through said guide ring at the said guide Way; fastening means to join said guide ring to said body member; gripping fingers r2 dially moveable in said guide ways and having axially projecting integral pins extending respectively through said radial guide ring slots and said cam ring spiral slots whereby rotation of said cam ring causes radial movement of said gripping fingers to permit selectively holding or releasing a cartridge casing said fingers being adapted to positively engage a cartridge casing; a bearing sleeve in threaded engagement with said body bore to permit axial adjustment thereof against the base of a cartridge; and a bearing sleeve adjusting means to allow an operator to rotate said bearing sleeve relative to said body member.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the bearing sleeve adjusting means comprises arrn integral with and extending radially from said bearing sleeve through a circumferential slot provided in said body member.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein a said gripping finger comprises a rectangular section bar having a circular pin extending from one end thereof and having the other end thereof defining a concave segment of an arc with one edge beveled.

10. The device of claim 7 having a biasing means between said body member and said cam ring radial arm and arranged so as to maintain said cam plate in a position corresponding to the radially innermost position of said gripping fingers.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the biasing means between said body member and said cam ring radial arm is a coil spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,159 Rice Nov. 24, 1885 448,228 Griflith Mar. 17, 1891 931,327 Manzel Aug. 17, 1909 2 373,379 Brown Apr. 10,, 1945 2,445,147 Meunier July 13, 1948 2,633,771 Crandall Apr. 7, 1953 2,817,533 Hcrbst Dec. 24, 1957 2,819,644 Corcoran Jan. 14, 1958 

